There were many interesting and varied cultural events at CAW, or Cultural Awareness Week. One of particular importance to this blog was Kilt Night, held on Thursday, September 17, 2009. Kilt Night taught all who came a little about the history of the kilt, how to make one now, and why you should always bring your camera with you.
Coming from the sister city of Juarez, Mexico, it was hard for me to find others with my interest in things Gaelic. How my own interest prevailed I’ll never know, but I was ecstatic to find others at Trinity with the same taste and I am proud to say I am already a member of the Gaelic Cultural Society. When I heard GCS was hosting Kilt Night, I was not going to miss it.
I started off mingling, accompanied by Irish music, apple cake, and Reuben sandwiches, but it wasn’t long before the photographic fun started. All were told that kilts weren’t originally made of fabric with tartan print and that while kilts were common dress they were not worn with the feeling of national pride until the wearing of kilts was banned. We were then told that the kilts we were allowed to try on were made of plaid fabric seven yards long. The fabric was to be pleated and rolled around the person lying on the floor before tying it around their waist with rope, making what was affectionately called a “Scottish Burrito”. There was another option made with four yards of fabric that entailed tying it so that it made a type of cape. Almost everyone tried at least one type of dress on, and all felt their “ability to wield a sword increase.” Needless to say everyone had fun, and seven lucky winners took a kilt or cape home. (I was not one of these lucky winners.)
Below you will find a picture of two GCS administrators (in the middle) and two volunteers, one wearing a cape (left) and the other a kilt (right).
Irish fact of the day: Contrary to popular belief, that national color of the Republic of Ireland is not green, but blue.
